What is FIA Card Services? (5 Things to Know)

Mike Randall • January 11, 2018

If you’ve never heard of the FIA Card Services, you’re not alone. However, chances are good that you remember the name MBNA Card Services. As one of the largest issuers of credit cards in the U.S. and around the world, MBNA was a very recognizable and widely promoted brand.

So what is FIA Card Services, and what does it have to do with MBNA? Let’s take a look at the five things you should know as a customer of either company.

1. FIA is Bank of America & MBNA Card Services Combined

From late 2006 onward, anyone holding an MBNA-issued credit card was transitioned over to FIA Card Services to service their credit card account. Bank of America also uses FIA Card Services as the service arm for many of its own credit card offerings.

If you see a new inquiry from “FIA Card Services” on your credit report, it is likely from Bank of America’s credit card division, as MBNA no longer issues new credit cards.

2. FIA is One of the Largest Credit Card Issuers in the World

Many people are surprised to learn the card in their wallet is actually an FIA-serviced product. That’s because many retailers and small regional banks outsource their credit card issuance and servicing to Bank of America, and thus the FIA card service. A close look at the fine print on your credit card agreement and even your monthly statement might reveal FIA Card Services, N.A. as the issuer.

In recent years, Bank of America has expanded and acquired MBNA, Merrill Lynch, and Countrywide Financial.

With the financial turmoil of the past eight years or so, there’s been much consolidation in the banking and credit card industries. Bank of America, in addition to its purchase of MBNA, also acquired Merrill Lynch, Countrywide Financial, and many institutions in other parts of the world. As you can imagine, the incorporation of such a varied set of accounts and credit card services has led to an array of challenges for FIA Card Services — and for new FIA credit card holders.

Other issues reportedly experienced by FIA credit card customers include poor customer support, a rewards program that is difficult to understand and use, as well as interest rates that are higher than many competitors. On top of this, the website and FIA Card Services login were reportedly not very friendly to use or up to date.

4. FIA Card Services Takes Steps Toward Improvement

For its part, Bank of America has stated that they are committed to improving the standards of customer service at FIA Card Services. The FIA Card Services phone number webpage shows a detailed list of numbers for use in different parts of the world. It also lists five different ways to make a payment, and how to handle disputed charges.

When managing your account, you can use the FIA card services login page to be directed to a secure website.

In addition, the FIA card services login page has recently been updated, and there is now a single point of entry into the secure site. A recent check of consumer review websites has shown a marked reduction in the number of complaints and allegations against FIA.

5. Look Forward to Even Better Service in the Future

As one of the largest credit card issuers in the world, it’s likely that they touch at least a part of your financial life, whether you know it or not. It could be that your relationship with them is through owning a Bank of America card, or one of their millions of branded credit cards issued each year.

If your experience with FIA has been mostly positive, then you’re in the majority. If not, you can look forward to better service in the future as Bank of America continues improving the customer experience at FIA Card Services.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Mike Randall is most knowledgeable in the areas of credit scores and credit cards, having written on those topics and others for the past eight years. He graduated from California State University with a degree in English literature, and he has an extensive background in personal finance studies.
When he's not keeping readers informed of changes in the subprime market, Mike’s hobbies include sailing and gourmet cooking. Connect with Mike on Google+.

Our Site

Editorial Note: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information, however all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on an offer you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your offer.

Advertiser Disclosure: CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own, and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.